Projectile for signaling or illuminating purposes



Nov. 18, 1930. DRIGGS, JR., ET AL 1,782,291

PROJECTILE FOR SIGNALING 0R ILLUMINATING PURPOSES Filed Nov. 12, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet l 3nnentpns rzg gs, Jr. a5er attornegs.

Nov. 18, 1930.

L. L. DRIGGS. JR., ET AL 1,732,291

PROJECTILE FOR SIGNALING OR ILLUMINATING PURPOSES Filed Nov. 12, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 2 attorney Patented Nov. 18, 1930 aUNI IED- STATES PATENTOFFICE,

LO UIS L. DBIGGS, JR., OF TIPPECANOE CITY, OHIO, AND HENRY B. FABER, OFNEW YORK, N. Y.

PRO-TECTILE FOR SIGNALING 0R ILLUMINATING BURROSES Application filedNovember 12, 1929. Serial No. 406,679.

Our present invention relates to projectiles for use in signaling orilluminating, and it is intended to cover an improvement on theprojectile shown in our Patent No. 1,712,383, granted May 7, 1929, andentitled Fixed ammunition for firearm., In that patent, the projectilewas intended to cover a short range only as a unit before a secondaryexplosion caused the signaling parts, such as the flare and parachute,to be ejected from the container forming the outer shell of theprojectile; the idea in that case being mainly to have the projectilethrown a suificient height up in the air for the purposes desired, or tohave it propelled sufficiently clear of the aircraft, from which itmight be launched before the secondary explosion referred to took place.I

In the case referred to, the projectile and its container might be andpreferably were of light construction only sufliciently rigid and strongto stand the limited strains involved, but according to our presentinvention, the projectile is intended to traverse a considerable rangebefore the secondary explosion occgrs, resulting in the disintegrationof the projectile and the operation of the slgnaling devices.

Our invention will be more fully understood after reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which like parts are indicated by similarreference symbols throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1shows a central longitudinal section through the projectile, ready forloading into the gun.

Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 show sections along the lines 2-2, 3-3, 4-4 and5-5 preferably of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a diagram, illustrating the flight of a projectile afterleaving the piece, from which it is fired. 4

Figure 7 is a diagram showing the parts of the projectile after thesecondary explosio'n has taken place.

Figure 8 shows the parts ejected from the main body of the projectilebefore the parachute has become distended, and

Figure 9 shows the parachute distended and supporting the flare as itdescends gently.

A, shown only in Figure 6, indicates any suitable gun, preferably asmooth bore, mounted on any suitable support, such as A, The details ofthe gun and its mount, not being a part of our present invention, willnot be further described. B represents the outer shell of theprojectile, having its closed end B ogival in form and of heavy weight,as shown in Figure 1. This end of the shell is provided with a chamber Bfor the ejecting charge of powder C. In front of this chamber, the wallof the shell is reduced in thickness, as at B, so as to provide anenlarged loading chamber, in which the flare and parachute are mounted,as will be hereinafter described.

The shell B should be preferably as thick only as is compatible with thenecessary strength and rigidity required of the projectile when expelledfrom the gun. The shell B may be integral with or secured to thebase B,as found most convenient; but we have shown the two as an integralstructure, which may be made either of cast iron, or steel, or othersuitable metal. The ogival B is perforated, as at 6, to receive the timefuse D. This fuse contains a time train 0!, which is ignited when theprojectile is fired from the gun; and after the time interval hasfollowed, the flame from this train will pass through the-holes (1 inthe end of the fuse stock, and will ignite. the expelling charge Q, thusejecting the contents of the loading chamber, as will be hereinafterdescribed.

Mounted in the rear end of the loading chamber is the flare casin Econtaining the illuminating composition% and the priming powder F. Thefront end of the flare casing may be reinforced in an convenient way, asat e, to engage the cor G connecting the flare casing with the parachuteH..

The parachute is folded in the forward portion 0 the loading chamberbetween the wads I and J, and surrounds the spacing rod Kfwhich Rid maybe made of wood or hollow metal tubin ,as desired, but the purpose ofthe rod or tu is to prevent the crushing from the gun.

. and

in of the parachute when the projectile is It is impossible Within theconfines of the fired from the gun. space provided by ordinaryone-pounder The forward end of the shell B is closed type of shells toproduce a parachute signal by a suitable cap M, which should be sufiorflare projectile. ciently firmly secured in placed as by flang- It isnecessary therefore to go to a proing over, as at m, so as to stand thepressure jectile of greater length, and this at once of the air when theprojectile is discharged eliminates thc possibility of usin rifling tostabilize the-projectile in its High The projectile is loaded into thegun with reason that the shells get so long that very the 0 val headprojecting into the powder erratic results would be obtained. cham er inthe gun, and when the gun is Furthermore, by having the flare and fired,the projectile will fly as a unit outparachute ejected in a rearwarddirection wards, with the lighter end forwards; the after the secondexplosion, the forward vegressure of the air acting on this lighter endlocity of the two will be checked, and the ill cause the projectile totumble or swing strain on the parachute will be minimized. about itscenter of gravity, until the weighted This invention is especiallyintended for head will assume the forward position indiuse fornavigating purposes, where it is decated at the right of Figure 6, andthe lighter sired to illuminate for some distance ahead rear portion ofthe shell 'will tend to keep it the path of a moving ship, for instance,in

substantially ointed in the right direction, ice fields or nearicebergs, or other places the whole pro ectile travelling like an arrowwhere the navigation is difficult. It will be through the air. seen thatby firing the projectile through the When the time fuse has burned theprededesired range and adjusting the time fuse so termined interval, itwill explode the ejecting that the secondary explosion will take placecharge C, and the secondary explosion will at the proper time, theproposed path of a tend to accelerate the forward movement of ship maybe clearly illuminated for an apthe shell B and head B, as shown inFigure preciable time; and by firing a number of 7 but, at the sametime, a rearward movethese shells, one after the other, such illumimentwill be imparted to the flare casing E nation may and the parachute H.The secondary exbe desired. plosion will ignite the flare. It willbeobvious that various changes As soon as the parts assume the positionmight be made in the construction, combinashown in Figure 7 the weightof the flare will tion and arrangement of parts, which could t, for thetend to cause it to fall more rapidly than the be used without departingfrom the spirit I lighter parachute, and the wads I and J and of ourinvention, and we do not mean to rod or tube K and cap M will separatefrom limit the invention to such details except as the parachute, andthese parts will then as particularly pointed out in the claims.

sume the position shown in Figure 8.- Having thus described ourinvention,.what

The range of the projectile would, of we claim and desire to secure byLetters course, depend upon the velocity from which Patent of the UnitedStates is it was ejected from the gun; and the strength 1. A rojectile,comprising a hollow subof the parts must necessarily be such as tostantial y cylindrical shell having its rear withstand the shock ofdischarge from the 6end closed by a heavy base, and its forward un. 7end closed by a separate cap, said base be- After the secondaryexplosion takes place, ing provided with a chamber for the ejectit isimmaterial whether or not theobody ing charge and an ejecting chargemounted portion or the shell of the projectile remains in said chamber,and with a time fuse for igintact or not;. but it is desirable to use anniting said charge, after 'a predetermined ejecting charge which will besufficient to time interval, with a flare casing mounted materiallylessen the velocity of the flare in said shell in front of saidchamber," and parachute when ejected, so that there a parachute in frontof said flare casing may e no excessive strain on the parachute andconnected thereto, whereby the center of when the flare begins to fall.With the congravity of said shell is brought near said,

- struction shown, it is planned to use a small base, causing said shellto turn end for end takes the place of the rotation caused by fuse for iprojectile fired from a gun of 40 m. m. or at. the beginning of itsflight and continue approm'mately one and one-half inches, andthereafter substantially base foremost.

to throw the projectile a mile or more; but 2. A projectilecomprising'a'hollow 'subobviously, heavier projectiles of greaterinistantially cylindrical shell having its rear tial velocities andhaving longer ranges might end closed by a heavy ogival shaped base,housed, iftiesired. and its forward end closed. by a separate cap,

It will be seen that the projectile having a said base beingprovidedwith achamber for heavy base and a light outer casing, is in theejecting charge and an ejecting charge eflect somewhat similar to anarrow, andthis mounted in said chamber, and with a time iting saidcharge, after-a prerifling in a rifled gun. determine time interval,witha flare casing mounted in said shell in front of said chamber, and aparachute in front of said flare casing and connected thereto, wherebythe center of gravity of said shell is brought near said base, causingsaid shell to turn end for end at the start of its flight and tocontinue thereafter substantially base foremost.

3. An elongated projectile comprising a hollow substantially cylindricalshell having its rear end closed by a heavy ogival shaped base, and itsforward end closed by a separate hollow cup shaped cap, said base bemgprovided with a chamber for the ejecting charge and an ejecting chargemounted in said chamber, and with a time fuse for igniting said charge,after a predetermined time interval, with a flare casing mounted in saidshell in front of said chamber, and a parachute in front of said flarecasing and connected thereto, whereby the center of gravity of saidshell is brought near said base, causing said shell to turn end for endat the start of its flight and continue thereafter substantially baseforemost.

4. An elongated projectile comprising a hollow substantially cylindricalshell having its rear, end closed by a heavy tapered base, and itsforward end closed by a separate cap, said base being provided with achamber for the ejecting charge and an ejectin charge mounted in saidchamber, and wit a time fuse for igniting said charge, after apredetermined time interval, with a flare casing mounted in said shellin front of said chamber, and a parachute in front of said flare casingand connected thereto, whereby the center of gravity of said shell isbrought near said base, with wads separating said parachute from saidflare casing and from said cap, respectively, with a stiffening rod ortube extending between said wads.

5. An elongated projectile comprising a hollow substantially cylindricalshell having its rear end closed by a heavy o ival shape base, and itsforward end close by a separate cap, said base being provided with achamber for the ejecting charge and an ejecting charge mounted insaidcham'ber, with means for igniting said charge, after a predeterminedtime interval, with a flare casing mounted in said shell in front ofsaid chamber, and a parachute in front of said flare casin and connectedthereto.

6. elongated projectile comprising a hollow substantially cylindricalshell having its rear end closed by a heavy tapered base, and itsforward end closed by a separate cap, said base being provided with achamber for the ejecting charge, and an ejecting charge mounted in saidchamber, with means for igniting said charge, after a predetermined timeinterval, with a flare casing mounted in said shell in front of saidchamber, and a parachute in front of said flare casing and connectedthereto, with wads separating said parachute from said flare casin andfrom said cap, respectively, with a stiffening rod.

